Editing Rhythm game (section)

== Health and education ==
Rhythm games have been used for health purposes. For example, research has found that dancing games dramatically increase energy expenditure over that of traditional video games, and that they burn more calories than walking on a treadmill. Scientists have further suggested that, due to the large amount of time children spend playing video games and watching television, games that involve physical activity could be used to combat [[obesity]].<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/2/534.full | journal = [[Pediatrics (journal)|Pediatrics]] | date = 2009-07-13 | access-date = 2011-11-14 | title = Playing Active Video Games Increases Energy Expenditure in Children | author1 = Graf, Diana L. | author2 = Pratt, Lauren V. | author3 = Hester, Casey N. | author4 = Short, Kevin R. | volume = 124 | issue = 2 | pages = 534–540 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2008-2851 | pmid = 19596737 | pmc = 8329994 | archive-date = 2014-04-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140403152715/http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/2/534.full | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070104144703.htm | website = [[Science Daily]] | date = 2007-01-04 | access-date = 2011-11-12 | title = Adding Activity To Video Games Fights Obesity, Study Shows | last = [[Mayo Clinic]] | archive-date = 2011-10-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111028020937/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070104144703.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

Studies have found that playing ''Dance Dance Revolution'' can provide an [[Aerobic exercise|aerobic workout]],<ref name="Unnithan"/><ref name="lieberman">{{cite web | url = http://www.comm.ucsb.edu/faculty/lieberman/exergames.htm | publisher = [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] | date = 2006-04-15 | access-date = 2011-11-15 | title = Dance Games and Other Exergames: What the Research Says | last = Lieberman | first = Debra A. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111103034538/http://www.comm.ucsb.edu/faculty/lieberman/exergames.htm | archive-date = 2011-11-03 }}</ref> in terms of a sufficiently intense [[heart rate]], but not the minimum levels of [[VO2 max]].<ref name="Unnithan">{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1055/s-2005-872964 |  pmid = 17006803 |  journal = [[International Journal of Sports Medicine]] | date =October 2006 | title = Evaluation of the energy cost of playing a dance simulation video game in overweight and non-overweight children and adolescents |  volume = 27 |  issue = 10 |  pages = 804–9 | last1 = Unnithan | first1=V.B. | last2=Houser | first2=W. | last3=Fernhall | first3=B.| s2cid = 6541042 }}</ref> Based on successful preliminary studies, [[West Virginia]], which has one of the highest rates of obesity and its attendant diseases in the US, introduced ''Dance Dance Revolution'' into its schools' physical education classes.<ref name="lieberman"/><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dancing-the-pounds-away/ |  publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date =2009-02-11 | access-date = 2011-11-15 | title = Dancing The Pounds Away | first = Allison | last = Barker }}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', more than "several hundred schools in at least 10 states" have used ''Dance Dance Revolution'' (along with ''[[In the Groove (video game)|In the Groove]]'')<ref name="lieberman"/> in their curricula. Plans have been made to increase the number into the thousands in an effort to mitigate the country's [[Epidemiology of obesity|obesity epidemic]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/health/30exer.html | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = 2007-04-30 | access-date = 2011-11-12 | title = P.E. Classes Turn to Video Game That Works Legs | first = Seth | last = Schiesel | archive-date = 2011-11-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122005456/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/health/30exer.html | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], former [[Governor of California]], was a noted proponent of the game's use in schools.<ref name="ashcraft65">Ashcraft, p. 65</ref>

In Japan, celebrities reported losing weight after playing ''Dance Dance Revolution'', which drove sales of the game's home console version. Bemani's testers also found themselves losing weight while working on the game.<ref name="ashcraft65"/>

There is further anecdotal evidence that these games aid weight loss,<ref name="lieberman"/> though the [[University of Michigan Health System]] has cautioned that dance games and other [[Exergaming|exergames]] should only be a starting point towards traditional sports, which are more effective.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2008/hmvideogames.htm | publisher = [[University of Michigan Health System]] | date = 2008-03-03 | access-date = 2011-11-15 | title = Video games and exercise: High-energy games get kids off the couch, but shouldn't replace real sports | first = Katie | last = Vloet | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110921204359/http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2008/hmvideogames.htm | archive-date = 2011-09-21 }}</ref>

Dance games have also been used in rehabilitation and fall-prevention programs for elderly patients, using customised, slower versions of existing games and mats.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/health/computer_games_keep_elderly_on_their_68lVidRD8BNWwZtOzxzhzM | magazine = [[Business Review Weekly]] | date = 2011-07-21 | access-date = 2011-11-14 | title = Computer Games Keep Elderly on Their Toes | first = Jeanne-Vida | last = Douglas | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111014024601/http://brw.com.au/p/sections/health/computer_games_keep_elderly_on_their_68lVidRD8BNWwZtOzxzhzM | archive-date = 2011-10-14 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Researchers have further experimented with prototypes of games allowing wider and more realistic stepping than the tapping actions found in commercial dance games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icdvrat.reading.ac.uk/2010/papers/ICDVRAT2010_S08_N01_Lange_etal.pdf |publisher=[[University of Southern California]] |date=2010-08-31 |access-date=2011-11-14 |title=Development of an interactive stepping game to reduce falls in the elderly |author1=Lange |author2=Flynn |author3=Chang |author4=Liang |author5=Chieng |author6=Rizzo |archive-date=2020-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114142903/http://www.icdvrat.reading.ac.uk/2010/papers/ICDVRAT2010_S08_N01_Lange_etal.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

MIT students collaborated with the government of [[Singapore]] and a professor at the [[National University of Singapore]] to create ''AudiOdyssey'', a game which allows both blind and sighted gamers to play together.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/education/edlife/ideas-blindvideo-t.html?_r=2 | title = See Me, Hear Me: A Video Game for the Blind | first = Abby | last = Ellin | date = 2008-12-26 | access-date = 2011-11-14 | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | archive-date = 2013-05-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130521072028/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/education/edlife/ideas-blindvideo-t.html?_r=2 | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== ''Guitar Hero'' and related games ===
''Guitar Hero'' games have been used alongside [[physical therapy]] to help recovering [[stroke]] patients, because of the multiple limb coordination that the titles require.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/24/you-dont-have-to-be-a-quick-fingered-15-year-old-t/ | title = Healing with Guitar Hero | newspaper = [[Washington Post]] | date = 2008-09-24 | access-date = 2011-11-12 | first = Gabriella | last = Boston | archive-date = 2020-03-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200325191155/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/24/you-dont-have-to-be-a-quick-fingered-15-year-old-t/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Researchers at [[Johns Hopkins University]] have used ''Guitar Hero III'' and its controller to help [[amputee]] patients, and to develop new [[prosthetic limb]]s for these patients.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2009/23feb09/23guitar.html | title = Guitar Heroes: APL Riff on Video Game Helps Prosthetic Patients | first = Paulette | last = Campbell | date = 2009-02-23 | access-date = 2009-11-12 | publisher = The JHU Gazette | archive-date = 2012-03-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120331011904/http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2009/23feb09/23guitar.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Researchers at [[University of Nevada, Reno]] modified a [[haptic technology|haptic feedback]] glove to work with the ''Guitar Hero'' [[freeware]] clone ''[[Frets on Fire]]'', resulting in ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110710172219/http://eelke.com/blindhero.html Blind Hero]'', a music game for visually impaired players that is played with only touch and audio.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5092565/frets-on-fire-for-the-blind | title = Frets On Fire For The Blind | first = Stuart | last = Houghton | date = 2008-11-19 | access-date = 2011-11-12 | website = Kotaku | archive-date = 2018-11-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181116082241/https://kotaku.com/5092565/frets-on-fire-for-the-blind | url-status = live }}</ref> ''Guitar Hero'' was used as part of a [[Trent University]] youth sleep study, which showed that, in general, players who played a song were better at it twelve hours later if that period included normal sleep.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://vancouversun.com/life/Motor+skills+rest+sleep+levels+Study/3446033/story.html | title = Motor skills rest on sleep levels: Study | first = Misty | last = Harris | date = 2010-08-26 | access-date = 2011-11-12 | work = [[Vancouver Sun]] | archive-date = 2012-10-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022033336/http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Motor+skills+rest+sleep+levels+Study/3446033/story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

''Guitar Hero'' and ''Rock Band'' have introduced people to rock music and inspired them to learn how to play the guitar. A study by Youth Music found that 2.5 million out of 12 million children in the United Kingdom have begun learning how to play real instruments after playing music video games such as ''Guitar Hero''. The group believes that these video games can be incorporated into music educational programs.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/can-gaming-save-the-record-industry-1192251.html | title = Can gaming save the record industry? | newspaper = [[The Independent]] | date = 2008-12-17 | access-date = 2011-11-11 | archive-date = 2009-02-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220142635/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/can-gaming-save-the-record-industry-1192251.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Guitar teachers in the US have reported an increase in students who cite ''Guitar Hero'' as their inspiration to start learning. On the other hand, industry professionals, such as the inventor of the [[Fretlight]] practice tool, have expressed scepticism over the game's educational value. There is anecdotal evidence that ''Guitar Hero'' aids rhythm and general hand-coordination, but also that it creates a false preconception of the difficulty of learning guitar, which can lead students to discontinue their studies.<ref name="salon guitar hero">{{cite news | url = http://machinist.salon.com/feature/2007/08/15/guitar_hero/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080811141022/http://machinist.salon.com/feature/2007/08/15/guitar_hero/ | archive-date = 2008-08-11 | title = How "Guitar Hero" saved guitar music | first = Farhad | last = Manjoo | work = [[Salon.com]] | date = 2007-08-15 | access-date = 2011-11-12}}</ref> [[Guitar Center]] conducted a survey which found that a majority of instrument-based rhythm gamers intended to take up a real instrument in the future while a majority of those who were already musicians had been inspired to play their instruments more.<ref name="nebula"/> Despite such popularity the guitar remains less popular than it was in the 1960s.<ref name="salon guitar hero"/>

Some musicians have been critical of ''Guitar Hero'''s impact on music education. [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]] of [[the White Stripes]] stated that he was disappointed to learn that video games are the most likely venue where younger audiences will be exposed to new works, while [[Jimmy Page]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] does not believe that people can learn how to play real instruments from their video game counterparts.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.nme.com/news/the-white-stripes/45521 | title = Jack White and Jimmy Page diss 'Guitar Hero' video game | magazine = [[NME]] | date = 2009-06-22 | access-date = 2009-06-23 | archive-date = 2009-06-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090624014403/http://www.nme.com/news/the-white-stripes/45521 | url-status = live }}</ref> Similarly, [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] has turned down opportunities to have his music in the ''Guitar Hero'' series, stating that he felt that it was "more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200904/20090428_prince.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090506201714/http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200904/20090428_prince.html | archive-date = 2009-05-06 | url-status = dead | publisher = [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] | date =2009-04-28 | access-date = 2009-04-30 | title = Prince | first = Tavis | last = Smiley }}</ref> Other commentators have pointed to (including the expanded, lifelike Drum Rocker kit) used in such games as potentially useful in learning and creating music with real drums.<ref name="nebula">{{cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6986/is_3_6/ai_n54399025/ | title = Guitar Hero world tour: a creator of new sonic experiences? | first = Matthew | last = Ingram | publisher = Nebula | date = September 2009 | access-date = 2011-11-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229235010/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6986/is_3_6/ai_n54399025/ | archive-date=2011-12-29}}</ref>